§ 701.39 - Methods of approval.

The county committee will determine the extent to which Federal funds will be made available to share the cost of each approved practice. Approvals shall be made based on consideration of the county allocation, cost-effective opportunities for increasing timber production, potential for enhancing other forest resources, the forestry needs in the county, and the practices for which requested cost-sharing is considered by the county committee as most needed. The method approved shall provide for the issuance of notices of approval showing for each approved practice the number of units of the practice for which the Federal Government will share in the cost and the amount of the cost-share for the performance of that number of units of the practice. Notices of appeared practices shall be issued before performance of the practice may be started. No practice may be approved for cost-sharing except as authorized by the National, State or county program, or in accordance with procedures incorporated therein. Available funds for cost-sharing shall not be allocated on a pro-rata basis, but shall be directed to the accomplishment of the most production attainable.

(a) Cost-sharing may be approved under annual agreements or long-term agreements.

(b) Land covered by a Great Plains Conservation Program contract is not excluded from an annual or long-term agreement if otherwise eligible and is approved by both the Forest Service and the Soil Conservation Service.

(c) The same practices, cost-share levels and general program provisions apply to both annual agreements and long-term agreements.